India make West Indies struggle

ROSEAU (AFP) - Ishant Sharma continued to bowl impressively to give India early control and leave the West Indies wobbling on 64 for three in their first innings at lunch in the third Test on Wednesday. Sharma collected 2-23 from eight overs, after the West Indies were sent in to bat on the occasion of the inaugural Test at Windsor Park here. Praveen Kumar made the breakthrough for the Indians inside the first half hour when Test newcomer Kieran Powell was caught at second slip for three, playing defensively forward to a delivery that moved across him. Sharma then struck twice in the space of 12 deliveries, leaving West Indies reeling on 35 for three. He bowled Adrian Barath for 12, the opener attempting a hook at a short, rising delivery but diverting the ball into his stumps off the glove. Sharma fortuitously captured his second scalp when Kirk Edwards, another Test debutant, was adjudged caught behind for six. But television replays suggested that English umpire Richard Kettleborough may have erred in his decision, since the ball may have ricocheted from the helmet. It was, however, a series-high 18th wicket for the beanpole Indian fast bowler. For the remainder of the session the visitors met resistance, after Shivnarine Chanderpaul, not out on 11 on his record 133rd appearance for the West Indies, joined fellow left-hander Darren Bravo, not on 17. ScoreCard West Indies 1st innings A Barath b Sharma 12 K Powell c Laxman b Kumar 3 K Edwards c Dhoni b Sharma 6 DM Bravo not out 17 S Chanderpaul not out 11 Extras: (b8, lb7) 15 Total: (for 3 wkts, 28 overs) 64 Still to bat: Samuels, C. Baugh Jr, D. Sammy, R. Rampaul, D. Bishoo, F. Edwards FOW: 1-17, 2-24, 3-35 Bowling: Kumar 8-2-8-1; Sharma 8-1-23-2; Patel 6-3-5-0; Harbhajan Singh 4-1-10-0; Raina 2-1-3-0